Abstract

The main attractions of sea beaches include their scenic beauty, entertainment, security, and nature. An appropriate pricing policy can be used to preserve and maintain sea beaches. The current study uses the Hybrid travel cost method (HTCM) as a non-market valuation technique to value the Coxsbazar beach in Bangladesh. In this developing country, few or no previous works of this kind have been conducted. The paper’s main objective was to understand the willingness to pay (WTP) and analyse the socio-demographics and the characteristics of visits. Another primary aim of this paper is to analyse time spent on the site concerning income.

Using the HTCM excluding shopping costs, the study revealed that the amount respondents were willing to pay was 3129.15 Bangladeshi Taka (bdt), and the yearly consumer surplus was 13477182683 bdt. Using the HTCM, including shopping costs,  the  study  showed  that  respondents  were  willing to pay 3519.975 bdt and the annual consumer surplus was 15160533122 bdt. Furthermore, from the Leisure time analysis, it was found that Leisure time spent on the site was strongly positively related to family and personal income. The consumer increased the demand for spending more leisure time on the site (luxury items) more than proportionately as his family money income rises. Additionally, it revealed that the consumer increased the total leisure time spent for the total yearly trip to Coxsbazar less than proportionately as his money income rises (normal good).